Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-Thon discussion

I don't know about the rest of you but I am a major crafter. I spend probably around 100 hours a month in various craft projects. Most notably, I am a cross stitcher. I also do quilting. I have a YouTube account ( https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZo-... ) where I post videos about my cross stitching. There are thousands of us out there. This isn't your Grannies craft. I find I am most productive in my crafting when I have an audiobook or podcast on. I used to watch a lot of tv while doing my crafts, but found that I can do nearly double the amount when I just listen to a book.

Anyway, I thought that I would create this thread for anyone else who does crafts or other hobbies. I would love to see your pictures or videos or blogs. Share your passion!

Thanks, Kath! I'll come back and post :)

While I am not as dedicated to my crafts as you are, I have to agree with you about having an audiobook going. I make cards and other various paper crafts and when I have an audiobook going I totally loose myself in the book and the cards, time flies and the creativity really seems to flow.

I'm a crocheter and knitter. When I'm doing that, I usually like to have an audio book going, or a TV show on for background noise. I'm currently working on three separate shawls, so part of the readathon will probably be spent working on one of those.

Kelley wrote: "I'm a crocheter and knitter. When I'm doing that, I usually like to have an audio book going, or a TV show on for background noise. I'm currently working on three separate shawls, so part of the re..."

That is awesome. I have many projects on the go and will certainly be working on something during the readathon.

I'm a paper crafter and crocheter, and family is usually home with me when I create. However, I can't listen and create--especially something original and listen to anything that requires attention--at the same time. :( So, I listen to audiobooks on my commute and anytime I'm in the car for a longer period of time. Sigh...I wish I could...

I'm a cross stitcher primarily. I try to have a podcast or audio drama (Big Finish's Doctor Who ones) to listen to while I stitch. I used to stitch and watch tv, but I need reading glasses now and hate having to switch to check a score/etc.

Recently got back into crochet. While I primarily listen to audiobooks when I drive, I've started pulling them out to crochet with too.

Primarily cross-stitch and hardanger myself.

Debbie's Spurts (D.A.) wrote: "Primarily cross-stitch and hardanger myself."

Hardanger is something I've always wanted to try but it scares the heck out of me! But I have seen some beautiful hardanger pieces and really want to try it.

Kathryn CA wrote: "Hardanger is something I've always wanted to try.."

Try is the key. The pattern instructions and diagrams/photos make zero sense until you actually put needle in hand and try. Internet in various places has animated stitch diagrams and videos that are usually much clearer. If you cut the wrong thread, just fray off one from the edge of your fabric and weave it back in.

A free online course at http://www.needlework-tips-and-techni...

My go to stitch animations to remind myself of stitches I already learned is http://www.victoriasampler.com/Stitch...

Debbie's Spurts (D.A.) wrote: "Kathryn CA wrote: "Hardanger is something I've always wanted to try.."

Try is the key. The pattern instructions and diagrams/photos make zero sense until you actually put needle in hand and try. I..."

Thank you so much! I will look into these and try it. Goodness knows I have enough material to at least try.

What kind of cross stitch do you do?

Debbie's Spurts (D.A.) wrote: "Kathryn CA wrote: "Hardanger is something I've always wanted to try.."

Try is the key. The pattern instructions and diagrams/photos make zero sense until you actually put needle in hand and try. I..."

I knew I had heard the name Victoria Sampler before. I have been eyeing their Nativity piece for a while now. And I have been watching one stitcher work on the Pumpkin Patch one. So beautiful.

The VS site is a retail one for that designer but their stitch animations are free.

I have not done cross stitch in a long time. I made a huge picture and have just put it to the side. Now I crochet and do photography.
Photography might not seem like a craft however, I can spend hours trying to get the shot that I want.

I do listen to audio books when I do handcrafting, it just makes the time fly.

Debbie's Spurts (D.A.) wrote: "The VS site is a retail one for that designer but their stitch animations are free."

I looked at their designs on 123stitch.com

Stephanie wrote: "I have not done cross stitch in a long time. I made a huge picture and have just put it to the side. Now I crochet and do photography.
Photography might not seem like a craft however, I can spend ..."

I have a sister and brother-in-law who do photography so I know what you mean and completely agree it is an art form. I don't have the patience for it (or the eye for it). Can sit there putting in thousands of stitches but can't spend the time trying to get a good photograph. lol

I crochet. I try to always have an audiobook handy. I often have orders to fill. Keeps me busy.

Kathryn CA wrote: "Stephanie wrote: "I have not done cross stitch in a long time. I made a huge picture and have just put it to the side. Now I crochet and do photography.
Photography might not seem like a craft how..."
It has to do with taking the same picture many many times, and getting out of bed early when you want to sleep in.

This is a great thread! I crochet every single day! I love it so much. I always have more than one project on the go at a time. I love the idea of listening to an audio book while I crochet. I plan to finally give it a try next week during the readathon.

I also love photography and scrapbooking. Oh, and I really want to teach myself to knit this year.

I love this conversation. My 14 yo son is an avid crafter. He started a knitting club at his high school called "yarnia". He's been knitting baby clothes/blankets for his sister's baby dolls. He's also working on a cross-stitch project of Victorian homes with his grandmother. Somehow the crafting gene skipped a generation as I don't craft - just read :)

Susan wrote: "I love this conversation. My 14 yo son is an avid crafter. He started a knitting club at his high school called "yarnia". He's been knitting baby clothes/blankets for his sister's baby dolls. He's ..."

Wow, I think that is so awesome. Love the name of the club. Yarnia! hahaha. Very clever. I can't knit to save my life (okay, well probably to save my life). And I love the patterns of Victorian homes. That is awesome. I stitch a lot of cottages.

Kathryn CA wrote: "Susan wrote: "I love this conversation. My 14 yo son is an avid crafter. He started a knitting club at his high school called "yarnia". He's been knitting baby clothes/blankets for his sister's bab..."

He loves cottages also! I'll send him your link to your YouTube videos. He's been watching quilting videos lately - really wants to learn how to quilt. I've encouraged him to listen to audiobooks while crafting, but he's infatuated with watching "The office" on Netflix right now.

Susan wrote: "Kathryn CA wrote: "Susan wrote: "I love this conversation. My 14 yo son is an avid crafter. He started a knitting club at his high school called "yarnia". He's been knitting baby clothes/blankets f..."

I quilt as well! So many hobbies. Wow, I love hearing about kids like this. My youngest sister is the same way. She knits and quilts and cross stitches and draws and rainbow looms. I think it is great!

Oh it's so nice to meet all of you -- I'm a cross stitcher and needlepointer who is forever grateful for the rise of audiobooks.

I love all things stitching! Cross-stitching, embroidery, needlepoint, I also sew a little bit and would love to learn to quilt. I like the idea of utilizing audiobooks. I typically watch something on tv while I'm stitching but try to find something easy that I don't have to focus on too much. Doing audiobooks instead would be a great way to get around that!

Kamisha wrote: "I love all things stitching! Cross-stitching, embroidery, needlepoint, I also sew a little bit and would love to learn to quilt. I like the idea of utilizing audiobooks. I typically watch something..."

It really is. Plus no matter how little you look up on the screen, you look a whole lot less while listening to an audiobook and thus get a lot more stitching done.

I knit! I have a newfound love of audiobooks since with those I can "read" and knit at the same time.

I am so glad for this thread, because it inspired me to dig up an old cross stitch kit from when I was a kid! Usually I cook, do chores, and do basic mending when I listen to audiobooks. For this readathon I will try out cross stitching to keep my hands busy when I listen. and maybe it'll be the start of a new hobby for me!

Steph wrote: "I am so glad for this thread, because it inspired me to dig up an old cross stitch kit from when I was a kid! Usually I cook, do chores, and do basic mending when I listen to audiobooks. For this r..."

Yay! I hope so!

When I don't have a book in my hands I am crocheting and listening to audiobooks. Mostly I make hats and shawls right now, though I am always learning new patterns and stitches. I have 2 fiber arts circles I attend every week, including one at the local library, which allows me an excuse to browse the library's shelves for more books every week, too.

I'm another knitter, and plan to spend part of the day knitting while listening to an audio book.

Hi :D

I like to knit and crochet and I just took up sewing as well! I might be knitting a bit on the skirt I'm currently working on, but otherwise I'll stick to print books this time around :)

My current craft/hobby interest is doodling and watercolor painting. I like to keep a art/bullet journal where I write a little, doodle a little.

Kristel wrote: "My current craft/hobby interest is doodling and watercolor painting. I like to keep a art/bullet journal where I write a little, doodle a little."

I bullet journal! However mine is very simplistic as I don't doodle. Or draw. Just not my talent. But I do love bullet journaling and I love seeing different people's spreads.

I used to crochet for a while and also did some cross-stitching, but ultimately it is not my thing. Recently I have done some colouring. Not very ambitious, but it's relaxing! I might do some colouring in my current colouring book during the readathon:

Pictura: Shaun Tan's Metropolis

I will post updates... shall I add them to this thread here as well as to the book thread?

I have a few projects I'll probably be working on tomorrow.

Serengeti Mandala on black fabric:
https://chatelaine.de/downloads/ocf-o...

October or November Cottage of the months:
http://countrycottageneedleworks.com/...

Maybe something else but I haven't decided yet. I like to jump around from project to project a lot.

I have a charity scarf to finish and a couple shawls in progress so I'll be working on them at some point in the readathon.

Kelley wrote: "I have a charity scarf to finish and a couple shawls in progress so I'll be working on them at some point in the readathon."

Oh gosh, the number of shawls I have started is sooooo many. Number I have finished.... 0. That is a problem.

I love this thread so much. I wish I had time to craft again. I’m going back to school making it hard to have commitment to other hobbies.

I am so looking forward to getting out my knitting needles or trying to doodle/paint again. Audiobooks do help but I only listen to audiobooks while working at the moment. ;)

I do some doodle, drawing these days. I have posted some on Instragram. My name on instagram is Kristelh there. I also like other crafts but right now that is my main thing. I have big plans for when I retire.

I have a youtube channel as well. Though mine mainly deals with cross stitching project, I do talk about crochet or quilting when it comes up.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZo-...

I sew, knit, crochet, hand embroider, machine embroider, and cross stitch. My family actually has a craft business where I make most of the fiber crafts and my mom makes vinyl crafts (water bottles, cutting boards, decals, etc). The website is https://kellcreations.com if you're curious.

I'm going to a wedding next month and I have to finish a hand embroidered map of the world quilt before then (my friend and her fiance like to travel a lot so this is like a fiber version of those wall pin maps), so I'll be spending more time than usual with audiobooks this go round so I can work on that. It's kind of a ridiculously ambitious gift and far more intricate than I usually do, but at the same time it's fairly simple. I'm just doing outlines of the continents so I'm only using one stitch and one thread color. But the actual map is a panel about 30"x35" and that's not counting sashing and borders so there's a lot to do. I've got about a third of the embroidery done. Hopefully by the end of the readathon I'll have a majority of the embroidery done!

Lauren wrote: "I sew, knit, crochet, hand embroider, machine embroider, and cross stitch. My family actually has a craft business where I make most of the fiber crafts and my mom makes vinyl crafts (water bottles..."

That sounds amazing. I would love to see how that looks like!

Kathryn CA wrote: "Lauren wrote: "I sew, knit, crochet, hand embroider, machine embroider, and cross stitch. My family actually has a craft business where I make most of the fiber crafts and my mom makes vinyl crafts..."

I posted a picture last night of where I was at over on twitter (https://twitter.com/irasobrietate/sta...) and I'm planning on posting a (hopefully better) picture after the readathon of how much progress I make

Lauren wrote: "Kathryn CA wrote: "Lauren wrote: "I sew, knit, crochet, hand embroider, machine embroider, and cross stitch. My family actually has a craft business where I make most of the fiber crafts and my mom..."

Wow, that is incredible!

I scrapbook and like to listen to music while doing it but since ive gotten back into reading, i want to try listening to an audiobook.

Lauren, did you get your embroidery finished in time?
I'd love to see a picture of the completed map!

I'm really into coloring and cross stitch, and I like to listen to audiobooks or podcasts when I'm crafting. I have a coloring Instagram account. My cross stitch projects are on my main account. I'm currently working on Modern Folk Embroidery's 12 month stitch-a-long, and it's a lot of fun! I also participate in Rainbows For Peace and Comfort. You can see some of the finished pieces here if you're not on Facebook. We stitch designs for victims of tragedies. We're currently focusing on finishing up squares for Pulse, and then we'll be moving on to Las Vegas, Manchester, Parkland, and the Texas church shooting. If you're a cross stitcher, we'd love to have you!

I'm knitting a Slytherin scarf, and I'm hoping to cover some ground this saturday. I work best with audiobooks too - tv slows me down, and I either miss the plot or screw up my knitting :p

I also cross stitch sometimes, colour, draw, just picked up sewing again, and I even did one of those diamond pictures. Is it pretty? Nope. But it's a nice thing to do while listening to a book ;)